Breitling Endurance Pro
In my opinion, one of the most successful Swiss watches in 2020 is the Breilting Endurance Pro. This is an entry-level Breitling sports watch that is very suitable for the times, offering a variety of fashionable color options. Endurance Pro is also a series that is easy to miss for many people. Most watch collectors want mechanical watches and quartz watches, and there is nothing wrong with calling Endurance Pro the peculiar flavor of G-Shock. Breitling’s polished metal fan base itself is not like that. But Breitling responded to all this.
Under the guidance of Mr. Kern, the “new” Breitling is developing towards more entry-level and youth-oriented directions. Endurance Pro is still a big change of 3,000 US dollars, but it is also nearly three times cheaper than the brand’s new 2020 Chronomat B01 42, which provides a completely different but also very good wearing experience. Breitling is always lucky, in addition to the foundation of luxury, also has a “professional” series of watches. This means that Endurance Pro can be easily integrated into the modern Breliting series at a lower price, because doing so is not uncommon for the brand. When you can’t buy Rolex, Omega, IWC, etc. at this price, it can also allow Breitling to compete at an interesting price. This is the field of TAG Heuer, but it is suitable for different types of customers.
The design formula of Endurance Pro is also very simple. Breitling first decided to use its Breitlight material (carbon) again and focus on the quartz movement. Please note that although an ordinary Swiss made quartz movement is high at $3,000, Endurance Pro does not include an ordinary Swiss movement. Inside the watch is a Breitling 82 movement, which is a basic ETA thermally compensated quartz movement. This time, date and complex chronograph movement has a quartz crystal adjustment system with a sensor to measure temperature. Changes in temperature can have a negative impact on the ability of these already accurate exercises to run at peak levels. The 82-type movement can compensate for the temperature changes that a watch movement usually undergoes when worn on the wrist, with an accuracy of about 10 seconds per year. In contrast, the accuracy of a standard quartz movement is about 10 seconds per month.
You will see the “Observatory” label on the watch face. This is also a real COSC chronometer. Please note that the Swiss COSC conducts different performance tests on quartz watches and mechanical watches. It is foreseeable that for the quartz mechanism, the test is much stricter. Once you understand the similarities between the time and energy spent on this movement and traditional mechanical watches, you will not only better understand its value proposition, but you will also appreciate how this watch truly becomes a professional watch.
Endurance Pro is the second generation of the product concept, which actually predates Mr. Kern’s management of the brand. In 2017, Breitling launched the Colt Skyracer, which offers a Breitlight case, a three-hand SuperQuartz movement and a price of US$2,000. With 2020 Endurance Pro, Breitling maintains the core atmosphere of the entry-level sports watch theme, but tries to integrate the design language more into the current series. Colt Skyracer is a pilot-style watch inspired by the world of sports flight. Endurance Pro looks more like a triathlete watch, suitable for various uses by people at regular intervals or events.
The Endurance Pro name is new, but the dial and hands are basically derived from the current generation Aerospace Evo (launched around 2013). Breitling actually solved a problem with the design on the Endurance Pro, that is, the pointer is polished and should be matte. In addition, Endurance Pro is a fully analog chronograph version of Aerospace Evo, equipped with a Breitlight carbon fiber case. Please note that Breitling Emergency II watches are also part of the same design series.
This special version of Breitling Endurance Pro is white and black (Oreo cookies or Star Wars Storm Cavalry, depending on your mood) reference X82310A71B1S1. Although I feel that more colors will appear soon, the release varieties of Endurance Pro models include black and yellow, dark blue, orange, red, and the white model shown in the picture. To add to its Star Wars character, when the chronograph is running, I imagine the chronograph hands are dueling the red lightsabers. Speaking of the dial, even Breitling’s entry-level watches have maintained a sharp appearance through application elements such as exquisite surface treatment and some hour markers. Some purists may not forgive Breitling for letting the chronograph subdial cut the hour markers in this way.
The Breitling brand rubber strap that comes with Endurance Pro has a typical Breitling high-quality strap, and a buckle with two holes is provided for the extra part of the strap to make it more suitable for wearing on the wrist. The strap buckle is also made of the same carbon fiber Breitlight material as the case, which feels good to the touch.
What I like the most about the Breitling Endurance watch is that it is not celebrating any specific event, but an attitude—an attitude that uses power and pure will to advance. Wow, how did Breitling know that the most famous human power in 2020 is endurance? This makes Endurance Pro the perfect watch for this year’s hero.